Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface is set to miss Werder Bremen's Bundesliga game against VFB Stuttgart on Sunday due to a sustained injury, Soccernet.ng reports.
On Thursday, coach Eric Chelle's 28-man squad for the AFCON 2025 was announced, and Boniface was among the players omitted from the initial 55-man provisional list.
His exclusion would have been a significant disappointment, particularly given his challenging year and the calibre of the players ultimately selected ahead of him.
Now, ahead of Werder Bremen's game against Stuttgart this weekend, his unavailability for selection has been officially confirmed.
According to Werder Bremen coach Horst Steffen, the 24-year-old striker is suffering from a knee contusion he sustained after a knee-to-knee collision with an opponent.
“It happened in a challenge, knee to knee, and it really hurt,” Steffen said in the pre-match press conference.
“Unfortunately, the recovery hasn't been as quick as we'd hoped. I can't yet say whether he'll be available for us again this year.”
Victor Boniface's History of Injury Struggles
Boniface has unfortunately struggled with injuries throughout his career. Early in his professional career, he had already suffered two anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries.
This history played a major role in his failed move to AC Milan during the last summer transfer window.
Even during his successful spell at Bayer Leverkusen, where he was performing exceptionally well, persistent injuries frequently disrupted his momentum. This was a contributing factor in the club's decision to let him depart.
Following the match against Stuttgart, Werder Bremen will play Augsburg at the WWK Arena. That fixture will mark their final game of the campaign before the Christmas break.
Boniface will be hoping to return to action as quickly as possible.
